Force slide to fifth place in Western Conference after shutout loss

Muskegon blanked the Force 1-0 on Friday, Feb. 2, in United States Hockey League play at Scheels Arena. This was the first time the Force have been shut out since Nov. 17 and the first time at home since their season-ending loss to Waterloo in last year's postseason.

"We're working our tails off right now," Force head coach Cary Eades said. "The puck just isn't going in. We've got to continue doing the right thing."

The Force (19-12-6) are now on a five-game losing streak and haven't won at home since Jan. 6. They are 7-8-5 at home this season.

Maine commit Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup has been out since that Jan. 6 game with a broken hand. Schmidt-Svejstrup is tied for eighth in the USHL with 17 goals and is 10th with 1.21 points per game.

Before this losing streak, the Force were leading the Western Conference standings. They've since slid down to fifth in the Western Conference with their 44 points. The Force were in a three-way tie for third before Waterloo (21-11-4) and Sioux Falls (20-11-6) won on Friday. However, the Force are still four points away from Western Conference leader Tri-City's 48 points.

The Lumberjacks (19-15-2) moved into second place in the Eastern Conference.

"We've having a tough time right now," Pokorny said. "We'll try to come back."

After a scoreless first period, the Lumberjacks scored late in the second period on a power play, which happened after Fargo's Griffin Loughran was called for a major penalty for slashing and game misconduct in his first game back from a three-game suspension. The Lumberjacks scrambled for the puck and passed from the left circle in front of Force goalie and Michigan commit Strauss Mann. The puck found 6-foot-7 Czech native and University of Connecticut commit Jachym Kondelik for a wide open shot at the net for his fifth goal of the season.

After taking six shots on goal in the first period, the Lumberjacks had 17 shots on goal in the second.

The Force appeared to score the equalizer about midway through the third period, but the goal was disallowed after review. Late penalties and missed opportunities hampered any chances of a comeback for the Force.

Lumberjacks goalie Keegan Karki totaled 37 saves.

"In the end, we have to win," said Pokorny, who had five shots on goal. "We have to do our jobs better."

University of North Dakota commit and Medina, Minn., native Mark Senden played in his 100th USHL game of his career.

"Mark is just a warrior out there," Eades said. "He blocks shots, takes hits, makes hits, plays with speed and just leads by example. He's the guy we look to create energy for us."

The Force will have another shot at the Lumberjacks at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. Eades said he doesn't want to make excuses. One-goal games are tough to lose, but he wants the Force to continue to work through the losing skid.

"It's easy to have moral up when things are going well," Eades said. "You find out what you're made of when things aren't going well."

FIRST PERIOD: No scoring.

SECOND PERIOD: 1, M, Kondelik (Del Gaizo, Pettersen), 17:32, pp.

THIRD PERIOD: No scoring.

SAVES: M, Karki 14-11-12--37; F, Mann 6-16-4--26.

A: 2,646.